Mah Bow Tan
Singapore
“The previous generation of Singaporeans overcame huge odds together to create this improbable nation which we call home. Let this generation work as one to define our country for the next lap of our journey. Sir, on this note, I fully support the amended Motion. Page: 143”
“Like all upgrading programmes, there is a certain budget, and a certain pace at which we will build. We have completed the LUP and now we are going on towards the HIP. The Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) is ongoing.”
“For those who cannot afford home ownership, we will provide rental flats. For the rest where there is hardship involved, that is where the safety net comes in. I do not think we should make the safety net so wide as to bring in everybody.”
“Building a studio apartment is no different from building any other HDB flat. If a person applies now and the building works start now, he can get it in two-and-a-half years to three years. We have stepped up the building of studio apartments over the last couple of years.”
“Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Health (a) how many people have signed an Advance Medical Directive (AMD) and how many have revoked them since; and (b) whether there is a need to review the current rules on AMDs which do not require a person who has revoked the AMD to inform the Registrar, thus causing uncertainty for hospitals t…”
“Parents who wish to exert more control over the maximum mobile service charges incurred by their children may consider service options such as mobile pre-paid cards. IDA is aware of the public's concerns on mobile subscriptions, and will continually review policies and look into measures to further protect the interest of consumers.”
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Every one of 3,030 lines we hold for Mah Bow Tan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 19 of 61.
“I would like to clarify that the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) issues Temporary Occupation Permit only when a building is deemed structurally safe and suitable for occupation or use. Without TOP, the building cannot be occupied or used. SINGAPORE'S SHORELINE (Protection against calamities) 18. Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, in view of the recent weather-driven human tragedies and Singapore being an island, (a) how is Singapore protected against such calamities; (b) are there levees or such protective structures protecting Singapore's shoreline from tidal waves; (c) how are the tourists and residential developments at the shoreline in Sentosa being protected against such calamities; and (d) if there is an early warning system in place. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Tropical cyclones, which include typhoons and hurricanes, do not normally form at places within 300 kilometres from the equator. Singapore is less than 150 kilometres from the equator and therefore it is most unlikely that Singapore would be affected by weather-related disasters similar to those caused by Hurricane Katrina or Typhoon Longwang, which recently affected the USA and China respectively. Any measures that we put in place to mitigate disaster impacts would come at a cost, and would have to be assessed against the potential risks. It is not practical to try to protect Singapore against all potential weather-driven calamities. However, we have various measures in place that take into consideration the possible scenarios that Singapore can be faced with. In terms of flood control, our measures today cater to weather-related incidents such as heavy rains coinciding with high tides.”
“The current legislative framework already has provisions to require projects to be completed within a reasonable time. In addition, provisions are also in place to ensure that uncompleted works do not pose a nuisance to others in the neighbourhood. In issuing the Written Permission (WP), URA usually grants a 2-year period for completion of work, after which the WP will lapse. As the Building Plan Approval is tied to the WP, it will lapse with the WP. If the development is not completed within this time, an application has to be made to extend the validity of the WP. There is also legislation to deal with the potential problems that may arise from uncompleted buildings. The Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act empowers the Commissioner of Buildings to order the developer or owner to repair and upkeep their uncompleted buildings to make sure that they are properly maintained. The Control of Vector and Pesticides Act also prohibits building owners from creating conditions that are favourable to the breeding of vectors such as mosquitoes and vermin, and, where necessary, requires them to undertake vector control measures. Incidents of uncompleted buildings are few and isolated. The current legislative provisions are adequate to govern the completion of building works within a reasonable time, and to address potential environmental or safety concerns caused by uncompleted buildings. Mdm Phua also asked whether there will be a review of the definition of 'completion' to ensure that the building is fit for occupation with the issuance of temporary occupation permit from the Commissioner of Building Control.”
“The proportion of households that were in S&CC arrears of three months or more was 4.4% as at 30th June 2005, compared to 5.7% in October 2000. The S&CC arrears situation has improved significantly over the past few months as a result of the efforts put in by Town Councils to effectively manage their arrears. To assist residents to pay off their S&CC arrears, Town Councils have implemented various measures. These include: (i) Arrange for interviews/house visits to assess residents who are in genuine financial difficulties; (ii) Allow residents with short-term financial difficulties to pay their S&CC arrears by instalments; (iii) Refer residents who are in need of financial assistance (due to loss of employment, sickness, etc.) to grassroots organisations, Community Development Councils or other social service agencies for further assistance; and (iv) Offer temporary or part-time jobs, if any, to help residents who are in S&CC arrears. DROP-OUTS AND EXPULSION FROM SCHOOLS 4. Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for Education (a) how many students have dropped out of school every year over the last five years; (b) how many students have been expelled every year over the last five years; and (c) what programmes are in place to help them reintegrate into the education system.”
“We will continue to work with our tripartite partners to promote fair employment practices through education and consultation. What is more important is to create job opportunities for the older workers and to equip them with the necessary skills for these jobs. Equally important is to make positive changes to the mindsets of both the employers and the employees towards the employment of the older workers. The Ministry of Manpower has set up a Tripartite Committee on Employability of Older Workers to study these issues. As part of the Committee's work, the tripartite partners are reviewing whether the existing guidelines and code need to be updated. The Committee is expected to wrap up its work by the end of the year and details of its recommendations will be announced at the appropriate time.”
“The Ministry of Manpower, together with the Singapore National Employers' Federation (SNEF) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), have jointly formulated the Tripartite Guidelines on Non-Discriminatory Job Advertisements to provide clear guidelines to employers not to adopt discriminatory practices in the recruitment process but to adopt a fair approach based on merit, such as qualifications, skills, experience and other attributes relevant to the job. The Tripartite Guidelines have been useful. Since their release in 1999, the incidence of discriminatory job advertisements in the major newspapers has dropped drastically from 30% to less than 1% today. The Code of Responsible Employment Practices, which was jointly issued by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), SNEF and NTUC in 2002, provides further guidelines on what constitute objective, fair and responsible employment practices. This includes not discriminating against any employee on the basis of age. The Ministry of Manpower takes a serious view on age discrimination. We investigate complaints of such discrimination thoroughly. If employers are found to have adopted discriminatory practices, we will take appropriate actions, including counselling, warning and administrative measures against them. Most employers have been responsive to our advice and have made necessary changes after counselling. The Tripartite Guidelines and the Code of Practices remain relevant and useful. There is therefore no need for a new Code of Conduct for Employment Practices, as suggested by Mr Sin. Instead, we should periodically emphasise and promote the practices outlined in the existing guidelines and code.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB concessionary interest rate is currently pegged at 0.1% above the CPF Ordinary Account (OA) interest rate. The CPF OA interest rate is reviewed quarterly, in January, April, July and October. The HDB concessionary interest rate is also reviewed quarterly and it is revised in tandem with any revision in the CPF OA interest rate. It is not fixed for the term of the loan. The HDB concessionary interest rate currently stands at 2.6% per annum, as the CPF OA rate is 2.5%. So it is 0.1% higher. When HDB mortgagors with concessionary loans are offered the Reduced Repayment Scheme or Deferred Payment Scheme, their mortgage interest rate is not adjusted. CODE OF CONDUCT ON EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES 12. Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Minister for Manpower in light of what the Prime Minister had said recently about not discriminating against older workers looking for employment, whether his Ministry will consider developing a new Code of Conduct on Employment Practices which, while not having the effect of the force of law, will set minimum benchmarks for the conduct of employers. The Minister of State for Manpower (Mr Gan Kim Yong) (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, indeed employers should hire workers based on their skills and ability to perform the job. Workers should not be discriminated against in terms of age, race or gender.”
“Sir, I am not privy to that information, it is a private matter between the bank and the borrower or the potential buyer. So I am not able to enlighten the Member on this. But, generally speaking, because the cases of default are not excessive and they are within the norms of the industry, I do not think there will be any significant impact on the market. HDB FLATS (Concessionary interest rate) 11. Mr Ong Kian Min asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the concessionary interest rate offered by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to HDB lessees is a flat rate fixed for the term of the loan; (b) under what circumstances will the HDB adjust upwards the interest rate of a lessee's housing loan; and (c) whether the concessionary interest rate will be adjusted upwards when the HDB lessee takes up the HDB Reduced Payment Scheme or HDB Deferred Payment Scheme.”
“There are many cases and they fall into one of the five categories that I mentioned earlier - the private property owners, the PRs, the high income households and those who have availed themselves of more than their fair share of housing subsidies through the concessionary loans. So I think it is difficult for us to make concessionary loans easily available for this group of people. In the first place, they really should not be purchasing a flat if they are not able to afford it and if they do not exercise their choice responsibly and if they choose to proceed, I do not think HDB should be in a position of providing such a big safety net for them. Having said that, of course, Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have indicated in this House many times, once in a while, we do come across cases where the circumstances are exceptionally dire, exceptionally worthy of our reconsideration and, under those circumstances, we will not close the book and we will look at it sympathetically.”
“But I must also add that even as they are given this choice, they must exercise it responsibly, they must continue to make sure that they buy a flat which is within their means and that they are able to service the loan, and if they are not able to do so, they must also be aware that they are now subject to a contract between them and the bank, whereby if they do not fulfil their part of the contract, they may be subject to repossession. Different banks will have different policies and they will be different from the HDB. But those who exercise this choice that has been given to them must exercise their choice responsibly and must be fully aware of their consequences. So the issue is not a comparison between the situation before and after 1st January 2003, but a comparison between the number of mortgagee sale cases versus the total number of bank loan cases, that is, between the 76 cases in relation to the 65,000 bank loan cases. This is not an exceptionally high level as far as the housing loan market is concerned, according to the banks. It is, in my opinion, not an excessive number. I do not think it is realistic to expect that there will be no such cases. But, so far, the number of cases has been within what the industry considers to be acceptable. What about those who do not qualify for rental flats? Can there be some guidelines for HDB finance to be made available to them? In the first place, as I indicated earlier, those who are taking bank loans, who go this route, are already those who are not eligible for the HDB concessionary loans.”
“Sir, the situation before 1st January 2003 when HDB was giving out market rate loans was that there were very few HDB cases of mortgagee sales by the HDB. However, I think that is not a useful comparison because HDB, as the Member knows, has a much more sympathetic approach towards such cases. When the policy was made to open up the housing loan market to the private sector, in this case to the banks, the objective was to give buyers more choices. The buyers who took market rate loans from the banks fall into two categories: first, those who are eligible for HDB concessionary loans. These buyers could easily have got a HDB concessionary loan but they did not. One of the reasons could be because, at that time, the banks were offering very attractive rates. Second, there is the category where they are not eligible for HDB concessionary loans. But that does not mean that they are living in the streets, or in the void decks, or in Changi beach park. They have a choice. They are not eligible for the concessionary rate loans for several reasons. (1) They could be PRs; (2) they could be private property owners; (3) they could be high income households, those earning above $8,000; (4) they could be those who have already taken at least two HDB concessionary loans; or, (5) they could have taken one loan but are downgrading. For the last category, as Members may know, we have been fairly sympathetic in looking at these cases. Whichever category they belong to, my point is that they do have a choice and the opening up of the market rate loan to the banks has given them this choice, and 65,000 flat buyers have exercised this choice.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the implementation of bank origination of HDB market rate loans on 1st January 2003, banks have completed the mortgagee sale of 15 flats, as at 30th September this year. There are another 61 cases where the banks have already secured the buyer for the flat and have submitted the resale application for HDB's approval. Together, these 76 cases constitute about 0.1% of all bank loan cases to-date, which number about 65,000. Besides these 76 cases, there are about 100 cases that are pending mortgagee sale by the banks. The assistance that HDB will provide these lessees whose flats have been repossessed will depend on individual circumstances and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As at 30th September 2005, HDB has granted approval for 20 mortgagee sale cases to rent a flat. To be considered for subsidised rental housing, households must meet HDB's eligibility criteria and must be facing severe financial difficulties. Sir, I would like to remind all flat buyers that they must exercise financial prudence in their home purchases and buy a flat that is within their means. Those who borrow from the banks to buy HDB flats are subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the banks. If they default on the loan payment and are unable to make alternative repayment arrangements, they risk having their flats repossessed.”
“Cashcard parking has been implemented in 72 HDB car parks. None of URA's car parks use the cashcard parking system. Of the 72 HDB car parks, 50 have implemented per minute charging. The remaining 22 will implement per minute charging once their cashcard system has been upgraded with the ERP feature. This is being done progressively. One 65-cents parking coupon allows a motorcyclist to park at a particular car park for either day or night parking, but not at different car parks. With the implementation of the cashcard parking system, motorcyclists are still charged once, ie, they pay 65 cents, for either day or night parking in a particular car park. They can make multiple trips to the same car park for day or night parking without having to pay more. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2010 PLAN (Consultation) 6. Prof. Ivan Png Paak Liang asked the Minister for Trade and Industry regarding the Science and Technology 2010 Plan, (a) whether the Ministerial Committee has concluded its study; (b) whether consultation has begun; and (c) if he will open the consultation to the academic and research communities at large.”
“Some developers may be prepared to offer some flexibility as a marketing strategy. There is thus no need for Government to get involved in a matter that can be decided through mutual negotiation of private parties. HDB AND URA CARPARKS (Cashcard parking) 5. Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many Housing and Development Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority carparks have been converted to cashcard parking; (b) of these, how many are not charging entry on a per minute basis; (c) what are the reasons for these operators not charging motorists on a per minute basis; and (d) how are motorcyclists now charged, considering that they only needed to use one 65-cent coupon for the whole day regardless of area, but now they have to pay multiple 65 cents for entering different cashcard carparks.”
“I believe that developers decide on the type of fittings to be used in their developments based on their understanding of target clientele's general preferences and tastes. If fittings provided are not to their customers' taste, sales of the property would be affected. Similarly, potential purchasers also choose property units based on the total product offered, including finishes and fittings. Hence, there may be very few purchasers who would actually choose not to take delivery of fittings provided for in private residential developments. This is especially so if there are no cost savings or refund of payment to be derived from such an arrangement for the purchaser. The Controller of Housing has informed me that he has not received any request from purchasers or developers to dispense with the specified fittings in residential projects, and there are very few requests by developers or purchasers to provide options for fittings. I would like to assure Prof Ivan Png that, for those few purchasers like himself who want some flexibility in the standard fittings provided, there are no rules to prohibit such variations. The Controller of Housing, who regulates housing developers, will allow the standard Sales and Purchase Agreement to be amended to cater for such variations in building finishes and fittings agreed to between the developer and purchaser. The developer and the purchaser would however have to come to a mutual agreement on this matter, the same way as they come to an agreement on other terms of the transaction such as price. The extent to which flexibility can be provided is best decided by developers, in negotiation with purchasers, and taking into account marketing, cost and other considerations.”
“Ong Soh Khim asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) what are the specific requirements and criteria, besides good taste and decency, that a charity body or voluntary welfare organisation has to satisfy before it is allowed to carry out a large-scale fund-raising charity show over the television and radio media; and (b) whether charity bodies have to submit a statement of their financial standing for the relevant authorities to assess if they have a genuine need to carry out such charity shows and, if so, (i) which are the relevant authorities that assess the needs of these applications to determine if the applicants are genuinely in need of funds; and (ii) what are the criteria in this assessment.”
“Once Johore is confirmed FMD-free, AVA will work on the accreditation of bio-secured pig farms and an export abattoir. Import of frozen pork from Johore could be allowed once these steps have been carried out. Meanwhile, AVA has also diversified the sources of pork supply. Currently, 19 countries can export frozen pork to Singapore, of which six can export chilled pork to us. Live pigs are also imported from a farm on Pulau Bulan in Indonesia for slaughter here. Pork Prices The retail price of chilled or fresh lean pork has risen steadily over the last 10 years by about 55%, from $6.70 per kg in 1996 to $10.50 per kg in July 2005. Increase in pork prices in recent years is due to factors such as rising feed prices, increases in fuel and transportation costs, and increased world demand for pork. Consumers have switched to pork due to diseases such as the Mad Cow Disease and Bird Flu affecting cattle and poultry respectively. Today, many of our food industry and food service providers are already using frozen pork. Consumers can also consider buying frozen or frozen-thawed pork at some of our local meat retail outlets as an alternative. Retail prices of frozen pork are generally cheaper than that of chilled pork, and the difference could be as much as up to 50% for lean meat cuts, or 30% for loin cuts. ____________ *This is meat from either live pigs imported for slaughter in Singapore, or imported chilled pork. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS VOLUNTARY WELFARE ORGANISATIONS (Charity shows over television and radio) 1. Assoc. Prof.”
“Pork Import from Malaysia In considering whether to approve food imports to Singapore, including fresh pork* , AVA must be satisfied that the food items are safe and pose minimal risk to public health. On import of fresh pork from Malaysia, AVA has two specific concerns - namely, the Nipah virus and Foot-and-Mouth disease (or FMD). Nipah virus can be spread from live pigs to humans, where it is potentially fatal. Singapore banned live pigs from Malaysia in 1999, following an outbreak of the Nipah virus there. In that outbreak, 11 abattoir workers in Singapore were infected and one died. Although Malaysia has declared that its pig population is now free of Nipah virus, the virus is still present in its wild bat population and may re-infect pigs. As for FMD, even though it does not affect humans, Singapore could still lose its FMD-free status if it imports meat from non FMD-free areas such as Peninsular Malaysia. This would impact our export trade in meat valued at $30 million per year, and milk and dairy products valued at $226 million per year. AVA therefore has to ensure that stringent quarantine conditions, regular audits and other controls are in place in pig farms before imports from Malaysia can be allowed. AVA is now working with Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) on a zonal approach to establish Johore as a disease-free zone. To minimise the risk of Nipah disease entering Singapore, we will consider only the import of pork, and not live pigs, at this stage. Only the frozen type is considered, as it is of lower risk because consignments have much longer shelf life and can be held back for tests on food-borne pathogens and chemical contaminants, allowing only safe meat to enter our food supply. DVS is now carrying out FMD surveillance in Johore.”
“Ivan Png Paak Liang asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he will review the peidu mama situation and, in particular, (i) provide the number of mothers from China who accompany their children to study in primary and secondary schools here; (ii) provide the number of such mothers working on work permits; and (iii) review the procedures for approving student visas to ensure that the child has sufficient funds for the entire course of study without an accompanying mother seeking employment here.”
“HDB and the Town Councils carry out regular inspections to ensure that all HDB residents, including rental tenants, do not indiscriminately place rubbish or garbage which can become potential fire hazards, within their flats or at the common areas. They also act on feedback from other residents. Besides routine inspections and public feedback, HDB also carries out annual inspections of its rental flats and advises tenants to refrain from storing rubbish and unwanted items in their flats. If such cases are detected, HDB Branch Offices will conduct subsequent follow up visits to ensure that the items are removed. Similarly, should Town Council staff come across any items placed outside the flats during their inspections, they would advise the residents concerned to remove them. Some Town Councils even offer free removal services for their residents. Based on our experience, HDB residents are generally cooperative and comply with the authorities' requests to remove items within their flats that are potential fire hazards and those which obstruct the common corridors. However, if there are recalcitrant residents who refuse to remove the items as requested, HDB can, as a last resort, compulsorily acquire the flat or terminate the tenancy in the case of rental flat. Town Councils can also fine them up to $1,000 for not removing items placed at the common areas despite being asked to do so. STUDY MOTHERS ("PEIDU MAMA") 29. Prof.”
“If they continue to flout the law and endanger the lives of others, HDB may also compulsorily acquire their flats. In all instances of killer litter offences, including those committed by the young and elderly, HDB and Town Councils will study the facts of the case and take appropriate action against the offenders. However, HDB and Town Councils can only do so much to educate residents and to take enforcement actions against recalcitrant offenders. Ultimately, it is up to all HDB residents to act responsibly and ensure that they do not endanger the lives of innocent passer-bys by placing objects in a manner that could result in them falling off and hurting others. If they spot potential killer litter, they can also help by informing the households concerned to take them down or by notifying the Town Council or HDB Branch Office. HDB FLATS (Storing of rubbish/garbage) 28. Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for National Development if the Ministry or Town Council keeps track of Housing Development Board tenants who keep rubbish or garbage in or outside their flats, consequently posing as a potential fire hazard to themselves and their neighbours and, if so, (i) what is the number; and (ii) what is the Ministry doing about these potential fire hazards.”
“Potential killer litter objects pose a serious danger in HDB estates. To address this problem, HDB and Town Councils have stepped up their public education efforts and enforcement actions. In the area of public education, HDB and Town Councils will redouble their efforts to highlight to residents the dangers of potential killer litter and the penalties that could be imposed for such offences. HDB and Town Councils will also encourage residents to proactively play their part in keeping HDB estates safe from killer litter. Over the next few months, they will continue to systematically comb through all HDB estates to identify flats with potential killer litter objects. These residents will be advised to remove or reposition these objects as soon as possible. Our efforts have the support of religious organisations such as the Singapore Buddhist Federation, the Singapore Taoist Federation and the Thai Buddhist Temple. They have reminded their devotees not to endanger the safety of others when carrying out their religious practices, eg, by hanging their altars in a dangerous position. To complement these public education efforts, HDB and Town Councils will take stern action against residents who persist in putting out potential killer litter and refuse to take them down. I am pleased to inform Members that the majority of residents have co-operated with HDB and the Town Councils so far. However, a small minority still refuse to heed the warnings by HDB and the Town Councils. To deter recalcitrant offenders, we will take them to Court. To-date, the Town Councils have taken summons actions against 89 households who have refused to take down objects that were placed in a dangerous position in the common areas. They were fined amounts ranging from $75 to $400.”
“1% of the total number of bank loans taken by HDB flat buyers. LIFE-SCIENCE RESEARCH (Grants) 24. Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what are the life-science funds that have been set aside for life-science programmes and research in the last three years; (b) how much research grants have been awarded to life-science projects in the universities and research institutes over the last three years; and (c) what are the percentages of research grants that have been awarded to engineering and physical science research in relation to life-science research.”
“Bank origination of HDB market rate loans has provided HDB flat buyers with attractive and flexible home loan packages offered by the various banks. Since 1st January 2003, flat buyers who are not eligible for an HDB concessionary loan have had to take up loans from banks/financial institutions instead. These include Singapore Permanent Resident households, households with monthly income of more than $8,000 and those who own private properties. As at 31st August 2005, 64,000 HDB flat owners have taken up loans from banks/financial institutions. 40% were buying HDB flats for the first time, while 34% were second-time HDB flat owners. They included 10,200 households who had refinanced their existing HDB loans with banks. A significant number of these households were Singapore Permanent Resident households, private property owners and high-income earners. Those who borrow from the banks to buy HDB flats are subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the banks. This was emphasised when the bank origination policy was announced in January 2003. HDB constantly reminds buyers, through various publicity channels and the media, to buy a flat that is within their means and not to over-stretch themselves financially. All flat buyers must exercise financial prudence in their home purchase. If they default on the loan repayment, whether it is for an HDB or bank loan, and they are unable to make alternative repayment arrangements, their flats may be repossessed. Banks may repossess HDB flats according to the mortgage terms agreed to with the mortgagor, as well as the procedures set out in the Housing and Development (Mortgage to Lender) Rules 2002. So far, 61 mortgagee sale of flats by banks have been completed or are pending completion. They represent about 0.”
“I am sure we will follow this up as we operationalise the R&D strategy for Singapore. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That Parliament do now adjourn. Adjourned accordingly at Seven o'clock pm to a date to be fixed. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER NOT ANSWERED BY 3.00 PM LIFE-SCIENCE EDUCATION 17. Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Education (a) if there is too much emphasis on life-science education as the primary and secondary schools, Institutes of Technical Education, polytechnics, funding agencies and universities are all investing in life-science studies and research; (b) if students have been influenced into thinking that life-sciences hold the key to the future and in taking up life-science as their future choice of study; and (c) whether this will reduce the crop, in particular good students, in taking up studies in engineering and physical sciences.”
“This is very important because if the money is directed primarily at public sector R&D, I do not think we will have a proper check-and-balance on whether the money is directed at the right areas. With the private sector as a partner in directing the research, we can be more confident that the research will be directed at commercially-viable projects. An important thrust of involving the private sector is also to involve our local SMEs. If you have read then DPM Tony Tan's speech, our intention is to build up the polytechnics and also our RIs to link up with our local companies, including the SMEs. So this sector will not be neglected. On the final thrust of reinforcing the nexus of R&D and businesses, the various points that she has raised are worthy of note. Especially her suggestion about PhD students being co-funded by companies, that is worthy of study and we will definitely look at this. I would like to say that we do have successful collaboration between the companies and our research institutes. I can give two quick examples. Mitsui Chemicals, for example, has a very successful collaboration with our Institute of Chemical Engineering and Sciences (ICES). Another company, Degussa, for example, also has a similar arrangement with ICES to develop new lubricants. I believe some of these new products will find commercial applications. These are the types of collaborations that we are looking for to reinforce the nexus between our RIs and the companies. Of course, in the end, the intellectual property that we develop in our RIs must be put to commercial applications and to reinforce our competitive position. I would like to thank Prof. Ong for the several good points that she has raised.”
“If you look at the way the funding has been allocated in the past few years, this reflects our priority. Prof. Ong also gave several suggestions about how we can develop our local talent. I agree entirely with her sentiments that we must develop our local talent. But, at the same time, I think she will agree with me that depending entirely on local talent alone will not be sufficient. We do need a complement of foreign talent. We will be shortchanging ourselves if we do not tap into the foreign talent from China, India and the surrounding countries. How do we attract these people here and encourage them to sink roots in Singapore? That is a tremendous challenge. With her inside knowledge about how local students respond to the research scholarships, and how foreign students respond to the research scholarships, these are useful feedback. We will look at how we can adjust the research scholarships to be able to attract more Singaporeans to take up a research career. Today, we do aim for between 100-150 Singaporean students taking up a PhD scholarship and this target is within reach. We are very careful as we have a limited local talent and we do not want to encourage or direct the bulk of our local talent into a research career because the local talents have to be deployed in so many other critical areas. But I agree with her and I think all of us in the Ministerial Committee in R&D agree with her that research is not just a matter of academic excellence. It also requires a passion for research. We need to identify people who are not only academically talented, but also have the passion to do research. Only then, they will do well as researchers. The fourth strategic thrust is to leverage the private sector R&D.”
“Basically, our approach would be to build upon our existing capabilities. Here, I would like to emphasise that the perception that she may have formed that life sciences is over-emphasised compared to other science and technology is a wrong perception. Our intention is to build upon our key clusters. If you look at the manufacturing sector in our economy, our key clusters are in the electronics and precision engineering, petrochemicals, transport engineering, particularly in marine engineering. We are strong in life sciences, but it contributes only 5% of our GDP. The other clusters contribute 22-23% of our GDP. As we go forward, we cannot just depend on life sciences alone. We have to build up several clusters of excellence and competencies. I think her misperception has been answered somewhat by Mr Tharman just now in a response to her Question about the emphasis on life sciences education in our schools. Our parents can be trusted to know what is best for their children and they will be able to see, looking forward, where are the job opportunities in Singapore. That is where they will guide their children to excel in. On the third thrust on having a balance between mission-oriented and investigator-led research, let me assure her that the primary priority would still be on mission-oriented research. We do need a balance with investigator-led research because we do need some basic research to complement our mission-oriented research. And when we bring in talent and develop our local talent, I do not think such talent will just be satisfied in doing mission-oriented research. So we need this balance. But overall, the priority must be on mission-oriented research that leads to competitiveness and jobs, rather than basic research for its own sake.”
“The participating SMEs will be required to provide cash funding for a certain percentage of the total research project value. Sir, in conclusion, I am glad that the Government has decided to put more emphasis on R&D, with the setting of the five strategic thrusts and providing the necessary structures and resources to support Singapore's R&D drive. I support them and hope to see many positive changes going forward. Mr Lim Hng Kiang: First, let me thank Prof. Ong Soh Khim for her support of the five strategic thrusts and, particularly, also for her several very innovative and interesting suggestions. I am sure we will take up all these suggestions in greater detail as we operationalise the five strategic thrusts. Let me just respond quickly to some of the points she raised. First of all, I agree with her that what was set out in then DPM Tony Tan's speech of the five strategic thrusts sets out the broad strategic directions. We are now in the process of operationalising these programmes. And in doing so, of course, it will not just be more of the same. When the Government invests more funds and more resources, we will obviously look at new schemes, new opportunities and new programmes. So I would like to assure her that the money will not just go to existing schemes or just more of the same approaches. In terms of the key performance indicators, I agree that the whole idea of the funds is to increase competitiveness and to create jobs for Singaporeans. We do need some performance indicators of inputs as well as outputs, but the final objective must be increased competitiveness of the Singapore economy and jobs for Singaporeans. Whether or not we need more centres of excellence and more RIs is something that we have to evaluate.”
“These doctorate students can be existing employees in a company wishing to upgrade themselves through pursuing research in an area that is of relevance to the company, while continuing to work in the same company, or students from the universities being parked in companies to work on projects that have been proposed by these companies while, at the same time, participating in the activities of these companies. Their employers will co-fund the research that the students are working on, and provide a supplementary salary to these students. In return for the co-funding, the employers will have a first right to be the beta test site of the technologies developed and co-share the IPs. This will ensure that the research performed is of greater practical use and can be transferred to the industry. This will also make it attractive for Singaporeans to pursue higher degrees as they will receive a salary in addition to a scholarship allowance. The salaries paid to these students by the companies are a form of private R&D funding. Hence, companies will be more willing to participate and provide such R&D funding. This will encourage private sector participation, bridge the universities' research efforts with the industries and enhance the link between them. Secondly, the polytechnics, which have industry networks, can be roped in to perform downstream application-oriented research. In the R&D value chain that I mentioned earlier, these polytechnics can partner the RIs on one hand and the SMEs on the other to perform application-oriented research that can provide immediate solutions to the technical needs of these SMEs. A research funding scheme can be set up for the polytechnics and the SMEs to jointly apply for grants to perform such research.”
“Traditionally, researches from the universities are often viewed to be too theoretical by the SMEs, local large companies and MNCs to be immediately useful to their needs. The IPs and technologies created by the universities and the RIs are rather basic and often too upstream for use by the SMEs. MNCs are less interested in these IPs and technologies created by the universities and RIs as they already have them from their headquarters and research laboratories. Thus, there is a need to ensure that the IPs, technologies and research developed by the universities and the RIs are relevant to these MNCs, local large companies and SMEs. However, there are a few challenges: (1) A university has to perform a certain amount of upstream cutting edge research to be on par with universities world-wide and to be ranked high internationally. (2) SMEs, being small, have limited funding to channel into research. (3) MNCs may not be keen to provide research funding to the RIs and the universities since they usually have their own research laboratories in Singapore and in their headquarters. And, by conducting research in their own research laboratories and headquarters, these MNCs own 100% of the IPs that will result from the research. Hence, it is not likely that local universities are able to secure large funding from these MNCs. There are two possible solutions. Firstly, a new industry-oriented Engineering Doctorate degree, which has been proven great success in UK and Europe, can be introduced in the local universities.”
“To increase the percentage of business R&D by SMEs in Singapore, we would need to study and analyse the profile of these SMEs, such as their primary business activity and employees' qualifications so that new incentive schemes can be proposed to encourage these SMEs to engage in R&D activities and help them to align their R&D investments with commercial opportunities. To encourage more private sector R&D investments, we need to increase the efficiency with which new ideas are turned into new products, processes, services and solutions and improve the protection for intellectual property, so as to create a conducive environment for firms to increase R&D investment in Singapore. Thrust 5: Strengthening the nexus between R&D and business In strengthening the nexus between R&D and business, we need to bridge the gaps between the research in the universities and RIs and private sector research in MNCs and SMEs. There is a R&D value chain that can be considered here. Firstly, the universities can be responsible for most of the basic and fundamental research. This is followed by the RIs, which act as halfway houses and the next stage where discoveries and inventions from the universities can be transferred for further development into prototype systems and products. The last stage is the polytechnics, which can take the prototypes further and develop them into commercial products together with the companies. Currently, most local research laboratories of MNCs and local large companies are application-oriented. Local SMEs are mostly only keen on short-term downstream application-oriented research that can provide solution for an immediate problem that they have experienced.”
“The arguments given are usually that "the universities do not wish to promote in-breeding" and "many universities in the US do not employ their own PhD graduates either". The issue of in-breeding is a non-issue if this PhD graduate is able to work on different research topics from his PhD work in his subsequent academic career. Unfortunately, very few PhD graduates have been given a chance to prove themselves. In addition, Singapore has only three universities while the US has hundreds. Hence, it is not difficult for a PhD graduate from one US university to find an academic position in another US university. Sir, this perception of local PhDs needs to be changed. It is ironical that local universities, having hired many overseas renowned research professors to supervise these research students, do not regard these PhD graduates highly. Why do we train PhDs if we do not even value our PhD graduates as potential academics? We can increase this recognition of local PhD graduates by way of offering some of the best to take up academic appointments. Thrust 4: Encourage even more private sector R&D Private sector drives technologies that are of immediate use to them. Economically relevant, no doubt, but they are not addressing technologies of the far future. If they are, such activities will be mostly conducted in their home bases and in the most confidential manner that will not benefit others. These are their "secret weapons". A good balance is again needed here: basic research to fuel the private sector, or a private-sector led applied research which is of immediate relevance. In the July 2005 EU report, it was reported that 22.4% of the business R&D is performed by SMEs in the EU, 14.1% in US and 7% in Japan.”
“In an MOE report, in AY2002, 77% of the intake cohort took up some form of study loans and, in 2003, 33% of the graduates are debt-ridden from these education loans; (2) The need to work so as to contribute to the family income and finance the studies of their younger siblings; (3) The need to work so as to accumulate CPF savings for the purchase of a flat to start a family after marriage; and (4) Male Singaporean students typically view the two years of National Service as having "fallen behind" their peers from junior colleges, and hence the need to quickly start working to catch up. To encourage more local students to pursue higher degrees, the research scholarships can be redesigned to address the concerns of these students. The universities and RIs can provide simultaneous on-the-job opportunities that could lead to CPF contributions for local research students. For example, these local students can be employed as research engineers in the RIs or as teaching assistants in the local universities while pursuing their PhDs. The university fees should also be made affordable to local students so that they are not debt-ridden upon graduation with basic degrees. Another factor is the perception of local PhDs. A local PhD graduate is often viewed as "second-rate" among those who have obtained their PhDs from overseas universities, regardless of whether these universities are first-tier or otherwise. Local universities tend not to regard their own PhD graduates highly when recruiting staff for academic positions. A PhD graduate from the local universities has very slim chances of securing an academic position in the universities.”
“A very high percentage of the research students under the university research scholarship schemes are from China and India, with Singaporeans forming a very small percentage. Granting of US visas to foreign students has since been relaxed a few years after the 9/11 incident, and many foreign students are heading for US universities again. Hence, we need to encourage more local students to pursue research, otherwise we would not have the manpower for R&D. Some observations on why few local students pursue higher degrees are: (1) The university research scholarship monthly allowance of $1,500 is not attractive to local students. This monthly allowance, however, is attractive to foreign students from the lower-income countries. To these foreign students, pursuing a higher degree in Singapore is almost like a paid "job", with the reward of a degree after the completion of the job. (2) Singapore is often taken as a stepping stone by some of these foreign students who will either immediately or eventually move on to other countries after completing their higher degrees in Singapore. Hence, it does not really matter to them whether there is a job avenue in Singapore for them. However, the issue of job avenue in Singapore is important to local students pursuing higher degrees, as they would not want to be "forced" to go overseas for a job after getting their PhD degrees. Enhancing the attractiveness of an R&D career, increasing R&D positions in Singapore, and more attractive scholarship allowance are some of the methods to solve this problem. Some personal reasons why local students are not pursuing higher degrees are: (1) The need to repay their education loans resulting from their basic degrees.”
“I am not sure if MOE should continue to manage the Academic Research Fund, as MOE is only an administrative body. To MOE, this is only one duty among hundreds of other functions that it has to cope with, and there is relatively little time and effort which it could afford on this. Thus, this duty should be delegated to an organisation that is managed by scientists and technologists, and serves nothing but one purpose, ie, best management of research funds. Sir, we need to develop our own talents in addition to bringing in foreign talents to supplement our R&D manpower. In Singapore, R&D careers lack attractiveness. The current low R&D intensity in Singapore results in few R&D positions, out-of-field employment, and possible emigration resulting in a brain drain. Making research careers more attractive is necessary to increase the inflow of science and engineering educated people into research positions to provide the R&D manpower that we need to move towards an R&D-driven economy. Increasing R&D positions in Singapore and providing a job-matching service for the PhD holders are two other methods to solve this problem. At the local universities, there is always this stigma that students with weaker academic results are barred from doing research. Sometimes, research and academic capabilities may not go hand-in-hand. To increase our local talent pool, we should selectively pick and interview students who may be weaker academically but with strong research inclination and potential. I have personally come across such a student, and it took me great effort to convince the authority. Currently, our universities rely heavily on foreign research students, and many of the researchers in the RIs are foreigners and/or naturalised Singaporeans.”
“From an economic relevance viewpoint, scientific and technological innovations would appear to have more tangible outcomes. However, the humanities and social sciences should not be neglected. For example, demographic developments and their effects on medical insurance systems, public spending and the labour market, the analysis of family and its sensitivity to the economic and social contexts, and unique social and ageing issues in Singapore should be studied. Thrust 3: Provide a balance of investigator-led and mission-oriented research in strategic areas I fully agree that there should be a good balance between basic investigator-led and applied and mission-oriented type of research. However, it should not be a "one-size-fits-all" ratio. It may not be so easy to decide on the ratio, as the ratio will vary from discipline to discipline. At the moment, the investigator-led type of research funding is very lean. From the figures given in a speech by Dr Tony Tan on 11th August 2005, the FY2006-2010 R&D funding will be $5.4 billion for A*Star and $1.05 billion for the Academic Research Fund. It can be observed that the funds allocated to A*Star to carry out mission-oriented type of research is almost five times that of the funds allocated to the Academic Research Fund to carry out basic investigator-led research. Sir, with this big difference in research funding, how does the Government hope to provide a balance of investigator-led and mission-oriented research? It is essential to provide a very strong support to basic investigator-led research that is broadly aligned with the long-term strategic interests of Singapore so that we can build a solid foundation for scientific excellence. Currently, the Academic Research Fund is administered by MOE.”
“It appears that there has been too much emphasis on life-science education, as our primary and secondary schools, funding agencies, Institutes of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities are all investing in life-science research and study. Why is there a need for the ITEs and polytechnics to invest in life-science? Sir, someone once mentioned that even first-degree holders in life-science are only fit to wash test tubes. So, what do these ITE and polytechnic students wash? Have students been influenced into thinking that life-science holds the key to the future and taking up life-science as their future choice of study? A more important concern is whether this has reduced the crop, in particular good students, in taking up studies in engineering and physical sciences. To pursue research in environmental and water technologies and interactive and digital media, a good spread of students in the physical sciences and engineering, rather than just the life-science, is needed. Economically relevant is usually at the end of exploratory or blue-sky research. A good balance is needed. Looking for new growth areas is a must. However, if the technology and basic sciences are available from elsewhere, there is no need for us to start from the ground as we can leapfrog such technologies and hire the best people in those areas. We will probably need to start basic research of a slightly different nature, something unique to Singapore, for example, diseases affecting this region and not elsewhere, and sciences and technologies that will strengthen the ties with ASEAN member countries. Environmental and water research are good topics that have great impacts on ASEAN countries.”
“In the July 2005 EU report on Key Figures 2005 for Science, Technology and Innovation, it was reported that China experienced a very strong growth in its R&D intensity over the recent years, with an annual growth of 10% since 1997, and that China will catch up with the EU by 2010 in terms of the share of GDP allocated to R&D. Sir, how will this strong growth in the R&D intensity of China affect the implementation of Singapore's R&D plan? Is our target of % GDP within the next five years competitive? Thrust 2: Focus on selected areas of economic importance where Singapore can be internationally competitive In recent years, there appears to have been a shifting away of focus from engineering and physical sciences to life-science. Life-science appears to be the chosen discipline. Hence, the second thrust that we should deepen our capabilities in key clusters, such as electronics, chemical and marine engineering, look for new growth areas and two potentially interesting areas, namely environmental and water technologies, and interactive and digital media, is indeed very much welcomed by the research community in Singapore. In focusing on selected areas of economic importance, it is essential to look at the research funds that have been set aside for life-science research in the last three years in relation to the research grants that have been set aside for engineering and physical sciences. We need to look at these statistics so that we can tilt the scale towards a more balanced distribution of research resources to other selected areas. In addition, our current education emphasis seems to be very much focused on life-science.”
“Next, what would be our key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the achievements of this comprehensive R&D strategy? We should not be relying on winning awards and competitions alone. Neither should we be relying on the total number of research publications and their citation counts. A country's performance in the knowledge-based economy is not measured simply by outputs of science and technology, but must also be judged in relation to the important goal of increasing competitiveness. Thus, we need to formulate a set of KPIs that is based on our unique characteristics. With this increase in research budget, more centres of excellence and RIs might be set up in our educational and knowledge institutes. There are two points to consider. Firstly, is there a need for so many RIs and centres of excellence in our educational and knowledge institutes, thus incurring unnecessary overheads? Secondly, would the setting up of more RIs and centres of excellence duplicate each other's research activities and equipment, thus diluting the limited research resources available? Sir, there has to be a synergy between the research in the universities, educational institutes and the RIs. I would like to propose a closer coordination of the research activities in the RIs, universities and the educational institutes to minimise duplication. Next, we need to view this R&D spending from a macro perspective. China has experienced a very strong growth in its R&D intensity recently.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That Parliament do now adjourn. Question proposed. SINGAPORE'S NATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC THRUSTS 6.35 pm Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim (Nominated Member): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to declare that I am an academic and a researcher at the National University of Singapore. I would also like to declare that the points to be brought up next are solely my views and do not represent that of NUS. Sir, I support and welcome the five strategic thrusts that were set out by the Ministerial Committee on Research and Development that would serve as broad guidelines to implement a comprehensive R&D strategy for Singapore. I would, however, like this House to consider certain points in transforming these thrusts from concept to reality. Thrust 1: Provide more resources for R&D in Singapore The Ministerial Committee has recommended a target that Singapore should achieve a national R&D spending of at least 3% of GDP within the next five years. I cannot agree more with this recommendation. It is certainly most exciting that the R&D budget will be increased for the next five years. However, it is necessary to look into how these research resources will be used to transform Singapore into an R&D-driven economy. The question is: hopefully it is not a topping up of the existing agencies, but some new schemes should be in place. Some possible new schemes are: (1) New research scholarship schemes and more research scholarships in our universities to encourage more Singaporeans to pursue higher degrees; (2) New incentive schemes to promote a higher level of private-sector R&D spending; and (3) New mechanisms to enhance technology transfer from research institutes (RIs) and educational institutes to the industry.”
“So I think there is no excuse - other than for these two groups - for anybody to say that there are not enough contractors around or that they are not able to do it on time. We have given them 12 months. For the last 11 months, all the contractors have been doing work on a steady basis, and most home-owners have complied. So for the rest who still have not done it, please make the effort. HOCK KEE HOUSE (Acquisition) 4. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Transport why was the decision to acquire Hock Kee House and to evacuate the residents and shopkeepers taken so late, causing inconvenience to them with such short notice, when two years ago the Land Transport Authority was already aware that the building was unstable.”
“Sir, I will look into the Member's suggestion about the financial assistance scheme, but please rest assured that those who need financial help will be able to find them somehow or other, including from the branch office. As regards residents not being able to get contractors to meet the deadline, I have indicated that there is a list of 600 contractors. If Members look at the HDB's website, they will be able to see that each zone has easily got 20-30 or more contractors whose order books are still not full and who are able to take new jobs. It is only a matter of taking the trouble to look for them. But even after all this, if they still have difficulty, they can call up the HDB hotline. Or if they go to the Town Council office, they have got a whole list of other names that they can call. So it is not a matter of contractors not being available. It is a matter of trying. I think this is really something that we need to instil in our residents as well - a sense of urgency. This accident is something that can happen. We do not want it to happen, but it can happen and it can happen to any household. And if it does happen, the consequences can be very serious. We are very fortunate that so far nobody has been seriously hurt or even killed. But imagine a full window falling down from 10-20 storeys and hitting somebody. For us to quibble about not getting contractors without making the effort, I think it does not do justice to the serious consequences of such a thing happening. So I would urge everybody to please make the effort. If they are really not able to pay, we will find a way to help them. And for those who really do not know what is happening, there are enough people on the ground going around who are able to help them and provide information to them.”
“There are another 24 which are term contractors specifically designated by HDB. There are other term contractors which have been appointed by Town Councils. The total capacity of all these contractors is more than 20,000 windows a month. This is more than adequate to meet the demand of those who have not yet submitted their requests for retrofitting. It is only those who are either not aware or those who have real financial difficulties. I think these are the cases that are left and for them, as I said, HDB is prepared to work with the Town Councils to identify cases and to see what assistance can be rendered to them, including advising them on what needs to be done.”
“I think the Member is doing a very good job in going round to help the residents. I am quite assured that I do not have to do anything much. Having said that, if there is any help that is needed over and above what she is doing, she can always approach the HDB Branch Office and they will render every assistance possible. Those in financial difficulties, we will find a way to help them. But the difficulty is in determining what constitute genuine financial difficulties. If they stay in a 5-room flat and they have a 52-inch plasma TV in the living room, I do not think we are going to help them. But we will look at it on a case-by-case basis. As for the numbers, there are two categories. The first category would be those under the goodwill repair scheme. These were the ones where the windows were originally fitted by HDB, and based on HDB's records, have not been changed since then. Under the goodwill repair scheme, HDB will co-pay part of the cost and will arrange for the retrofitting to be done. The other category will be those who have changed their original windows when they renovated their flats. For both these cases, HDB will be monitoring the numbers. In the first instance, for the goodwill repair scheme, I think there are slightly more than a thousand cases left, and HDB has assured me that they will be able to complete it before 30th September. The other cases are the cases including those mentioned by the Member for Aljunied. For these cases, we will have to take special steps to try and get them to retrofit before the deadline. One of the common complaints is that the contractors are all busy and, therefore, they cannot meet the deadline. There are over 600 contractors registered by BCA.”
“It is not possible for BCA to go round checking every single house which has not complied. If they want to do it at the end of the period, they will reserve the option to do so. But what is more serious, and this is where I would like to urge all home-owners to be aware, is that when a window falls down after that date, they can be subject to severe penalties. Although there were one or two cases in the past where the windows had fallen down, after investigations, BCA and HDB had not taken action against the owners. But after 30th September, if such an incident happens, depending on the investigations, home-owners may be subject to far more severe penalties. My advice is, first of all, get your windows fixed and, even after that, check your windows regularly. If there is anything that is not quite right, please approach either a window contractor, the HDB or management corporation, for assistance.”
“There have been complaints about errant contractors and they are the culprits who either overcharge or run away with the money. Each and every complaint is investigated and, so far, HDB has taken action against 49 contractors. However, a lot of the complaints have been found to be due to misunderstanding on the part of the contractors as well as the home-owners. For example, some of the contractors, having inspected the windows, found that the windows needed repairs other than changing of the rivets. In those cases, they recommended additional works to be done and of course these additional works cost money. Because there was a misunderstanding as to what needed to be done, home-owners may have thought that they were being overcharged. All those misunderstandings have been clarified to the satisfaction of both parties. So I do not think we need to worry about that. But I do admit that there are contractors who have tried to take advantage of the situation. I also know of contractors, through their own volition, who have given either free service or allowed instalment payments. Where there are cases of contractors taking advantage of the situation and where we can prove it, we will either fine them or debar them from the contractors registry system under HDB. If there are any complaints of this nature, residents can always call up the hotline and they will be investigated. The first question pertains to enforcement. BCA can either enforce it through the window retrofitting order or the Building Maintenance Act. But that is not the point. The more serious point is that we want everybody to have a sense of urgency to change or check their windows and to make sure they do not fall down.”
“Sir, the number of residents who have approached HDB for financial assistance directly is not significant. There are a few cases which have come to the HDB directly, others have come to the MPs. In my own meet-the-people session, I have several cases also. In all these cases where the HDB assesses there is genuine financial difficulty, HDB will direct them to the relevant community organisation. Where such assistance is not available, it will also be prepared to do the retrofitting exercise and collect the payment on an instalment basis. It has also come to my notice that some contractors have, for the very poor cases, been carrying out this retrofitting exercise either on a complimentary basis or on an instalment basis. So there are several avenues available for such financial cases to be assisted. But I must stress that these are, by and large, in a minority. I think the number of cases that have come to our attention has not been significant. Where they have genuine difficulties, they have been given assistance of one form or another. I do not think this is the main issue.”
“To-date, about 12,000 units have not yet fixed their windows. Of these, 4,000 are HDB units and 8,000 are private units. They constitute about 3% of 150,000 HDB flats with casement windows that need to be retrofitted and about 20% of private flats. Dr Khor also asked what additional measures would be taken to help those who have not retrofitted their windows. HDB and BCA have increased the number of hotlines that home-owners can call to seek assistance, and deployed more staff to tend to queries. They have also appointed more window contractors to meet the increase in demand. Home-owners who need assistance can call the HDB or BCA hotline for help. BCA and HDB have also taken stern actions against errant contractors who tried to take advantage of the current situation. Errant contractors who are found to be involved in malpractices like over-charging, providing misleading information or rendering poor service, would be fined or debarred from HDB contracting works. So far, HDB has taken action against 49 contractors. Dr Khor asked about the implications for flat owners who are unable to retrofit their window rivets by the deadline. With the stepped up efforts by HDB and BCA, I expect that virtually all home-owners will be able to meet the deadline. Those who still have problems retrofitting their windows should contact HDB or BCA for advice and assistance immediately. After the deadline, BCA will take action under the window retrofitting order against home-owners who do not have valid reasons for not fixing their affected windows. May I remind all flat-owners that this exercise is to save lives. With the cooperation of everyone, I hope we will be able to make our housing estates safe for our families, our friends and ourselves.”
“Sir, first of all, let me explain why we carried out the window retrofitting exercise. Last year, the incidence of falling windows rose sharply, from 107 cases in 2003 to 133 cases in 2004. They were mainly caused by corroded aluminium rivets in casement windows. In a high-rise built-up environment like ours, falling windows pose a serious danger to the life and limb of our residents. To address this, we required all casement windows fitted with aluminium rivets to be replaced with stainless steel rivets. In view of the large number of windows involved, we gave a one-year grace period. In the last one year, BCA and HDB embarked on a major campaign to raise public awareness on the need to retrofit their windows. This was done through direct mail to HDB residents and to management corporations of private estates, press releases, newspaper and radio advertorials, constituency exhibitions and other forums. BCA and HDB trained additional window contractors and linked them up with home-owners. Town Councils and Management Corporations were also roped in to help coordinate the window retrofitting exercise in their estates. The response from residents has been encouraging. To date, the vast majority, or about 94%, of households required to retrofit their windows have already done so. Dr Lily Neo asked whether the deadline for retrofitting would be extended when it expires on 30th September this year. My Ministry will not be extending the deadline. It is not in the interest of public safety to do so. The grace period of one year has been more than adequate. The vast majority has had no problem complying. The small minority who has not yet done so will be given additional help to do so. Dr Amy Khor asked for a breakdown of these residents.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 2 and 3 together as they are related?”